Atlantic Starr Founder & Singer Was 68

Wayne Lewis — a founding member of the R&B band Atlantic Starr who sang vocals, played the keyboard and penned hits like “Always” and “Secret Lovers” — has died, the group announced on social media.

A cause of death was not revealed.

“It’s with great sadness we have to post the passing of Wayne Lewis on June 5, 2025,” Atlantic Starr wrote in a statement on Facebook. “please keep the family in your prayers and respect there [sic] privacy #waynelewis #restinpeace #flyhigh Sunrise 4/13/1957 Sunset 6/5/2025 #restinpeaceWayne.”

The White Plains, NY-based band was founded in 1976 by Wayne Lewis and his two brothers — David Lewis (vocalist and guitarist) and Jonathan Lewis (keyboardist and trombonist) — as well as drummer Porter Carroll Jr., bassist Clifford Archer and percussionist-flutist Joseph Phillips. Early members also included lead singer Sharon Bryant (later replaced by Barbara Weathers), trumpeter William Sudderth and saxophonist Damon Rentie (replaced afterward by Koran Daniels).

Throughout the late ’70s and early ’80s, Atlantic Starr scored a number of hits on the R&B charts, including “Circles” off of the 1982 album Brilliance, which marked the group’s first single to hit the Billboard Hot 100. Later tracks, like “Always,” peaked at No. 1 on the coveted chart, while 1992’s “Masterpiece” topped at No. 3.

First signing to A&M, the group then moved over to Warner Bros. Records, having trimmed down to a quintet with the three Lewis brothers, Phillips and Weathers by 1987. Following the smash success of “Always,” Weathers left to pursue a solo career and was replaced with a number of other female vocalists. In 1992, the Atlantic Starr members appeared as themselves and performed on an episode of daytime soap Another World.

Wayne Lewis and David Lewis are credited with writing a majority of the band’s songs, and the group’s most recent album, Metamorphosis, was released in 2017.